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Arcade Fire, Live In Concert

NPR | By Robin Hilton
Published October 28, 2013 at 7:00 AM MDT
Arcade Fire's Win Butler, fronting the band in a live performance at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.
1 of 5  — Arcade Fire's Win Butler, fronting the band in a live performance at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.
Arcade Fire's Win Butler, fronting the band in a live performance at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.
Arcade Fire's concert at Capitol Studios was an exclusive performance for public radio fans, heard on stations across the U.S. and in Canada on the CBC.
2 of 5  — Arcade Fire's concert at Capitol Studios was an exclusive performance for public radio fans, heard on stations across the U.S. and in Canada on the CBC.
Arcade Fire's concert at Capitol Studios was an exclusive performance for public radio fans, heard on stations across the U.S. and in Canada on the CBC.
Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist (and brother to Win) William Butler.
3 of 5  — Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist (and brother to Win) William Butler.
Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist (and brother to Win) William Butler.
The band performed most of its latest album, the bold, often epic <em>Reflektor</em>.
4 of 5  — The band performed most of its latest album, the bold, often epic Reflektor.
The band performed most of its latest album, the bold, often epic Reflektor.
Capitol Studios in Los Angeles opened in 1956 in the heart of Hollywood and was famous, in part, for what was considered at the time to be a futuristic design.
5 of 5  — Capitol Studios in Los Angeles opened in 1956 in the heart of Hollywood and was famous, in part, for what was considered at the time to be a futuristic design.
Capitol Studios in Los Angeles opened in 1956 in the heart of Hollywood and was famous, in part, for what was considered at the time to be a futuristic design.

Arcade Fire's stellar and all-too-short performance at Capitol Studios wasn't listed on the band's official tour. It was meant to be an intimate show for friends, family and public radio fans, broadcast live across the U.S. on NPR and in Canada on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). The stage was cozy and the performance kept to an hour, but the members of Arcade Fire managed to run through most of the band's new double album, the bold and often epic Reflektor.

The performance came a day after the death of Lou Reed. Arcade Fire paid tribute to the much beloved artist by performing two of his songs: "Perfect Day," from Reed's 1972 album Transformer, and "Satellite Of Love," from the same album. Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler also dedicated the band's song "Afterlife," from Reflektor, to Reed.

While no encore was originally scheduled as part of the performance, a persistent and overjoyed crowd coaxed the band back on stage to end the night with "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" from the group's 2010 album, The Suburbs.

Set List

  • "Reflektor"

  • "Flashbulb Eyes"

  • "Afterlife"

  • "It's Never Over (Oh Orpheus)"

  • "We Exist"

  • "You Already Know"

  • "Normal Person"

  • "Haiti"

  • "Here Comes The Night Time"

  • "Supersymmetry" (With Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" and "Satellite Of Love")

  • "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"

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    Robin Hilton
    Robin Hilton is a producer and co-host of the popular NPR Music show All Songs Considered.
    See stories by Robin Hilton

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